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In 1994 and 1995 leaves from 10 selected West African trees and shrubs with varying tannin content were tested to determine their suitability as an alternative and supplementary browse feed for West African dwarf sheep to improve productivity in small-scale holdings in Benin. Dry matter intake per kg metabolic body weight (DM g/kg W0.75) varied between the different browse feeds and between the different trials and ranged from zero (Leucaena leucocephala) up to 26.7 DM g/kg W0.75 (Margaritaria discoidea). The digestibility of the organic matter varied between 58.9% (L. leucocephala) and 68.2% (Mallotus oppositifolius). Agelaea obliqua showed the highest levels of total phenols (10.2%), tannin phenols (8.8%) and extractable condensed tannins (8.0%). Leaves from various browse feeds are a good and protein-rich supplementary fodder in addition to the grass Panicum maximum. However, feeding of A. obliqua and Cnestis ferruginea should be avoided due to toxic components.

This paper analyses the role and the methods of the determination of discount rates used for goodwill impairment testing according to IFRS. In addition to analysing the regulations laid out by the applicable IFRS, the paper displays the results of an empirical analysis of the discount rates used by the 30 largest FTSE 100 companies in the years 2008 to 2011. Additionally, the results are compared to those of a study with a similar focus conducted by Duff & Phelps in 2011. The paper shows that it is adequate to use the value-in-use in determining the recoverable amount and that the grossing-up method for transferring the post-tax WACC into a pre-tax rate - which most of the companies use in practice - is not adequate. According to the empirical analysis, the average discount rates used have remained comparatively stable between 2008 and 2011. This suggests that the companies did not reflect any additional risks in the discount rate during the crisis. The study also shows that disclosures regarding impairment testing lack detailed information.

Acylureas (ureides) are valued for their important biological activities. Whereas cyclic acylureas have frequently been the object of solid-phase chemistry, only few reports have focused on the solid-supported preparation of acyclic representatives. We have prepared different types of acylureas on Rink amide resin in three or four steps. The products are either N-acylated (9, 18), N-acylated-N′-alkylated (10, 19), or N-acylated-N-alkylated (22). Characteristic NMR parameters of isomeric acylureas 10, 19, and 22 are discussed.

To obtain insight into the occurrence and prevalence of Clostridium perfringens and its major toxins in polar bears (Ursus maritimus), we took fecal samples for bacteriologic analysis from live-captured bears in the Svalbard Archipelago, Norway, in 2001. Clostridium perfringens was isolated from 40 of 92 samples (44%). Thirty strains were further characterized by determining toxin type and were classified to be type A, while one was also positive for the gene encoding beta2-toxin. Despite the fact that C. perfringens type A has been associated with fatal diseases in several animal species as well as in humans, our data indicate that C. perfringens type A is an normal inhabitant of the gastrointestinal tract of polar bears.

Die operative Hysteroskopie hat innerhalb der letzten Jahre in der Gynäkologie große Anerkennung gefunden, nachdem die diagnostische Hysteroskopie Jahrzehnte brauchte, um sich durchzusetzen. Die operative Hysteroskopie stellt ein risikoarmes, minimal-invasives Verfahren bei der Behandlung gutartiger Veränderungen der Gebärmutter wie submuköser Myome, Polypen, uteriner Septen und therapieresistenter Blutungsstörungen dar, welches sehr effizient ist. Die Methode ist für die Patientinnen wenig belastend und liefert für die ausgewählten Indikationen gute Resultate., Through the last few years operative hysteroscopy has become a widely accepted technique in gynecology, after it took diagnostic hysteroscopy decades to find overall recognition. At this point it presents a low risk, minimal invasive procedure, which is very efficient in the treatment of nonmalignant uterine abnormalities, such as uterine fibroids, symptomatic and asymptomatic polyps, septums or persisting bleeding disorders.

Serum samples from 1032 semi-domesticated reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) from Finland were examined for the occurrence of Salmonella-antibodies by use of an indirect ELISA. The majority of samples originated from clinically healthy slaughter reindeer, kept extensively (n = 802; year of sampling: 1996). The remaining samples (n = 230) came from a research herd, permanently kept intensively, with repeated outbreaks of diarrhoea. In this study, 29 of the examined serum samples showed an OD above the determined cut-off. The prevalence in the clinically healthy slaughter reindeer was 0.9%, in the research herd 4.2% in 1996, 10.5% in 1997 and 12.9% in 1998. It must be assumed that the intensive husbandry in the corralled research herd may favour the spreading of infectious agents and eventually outbreaks of crowding diseases in the herd. This investigation is complemented by a review on the occurrence of Salmonella in wild and semi-domesticated cervids.

An indirect ELISA was developed as a tool for surveillance of antibodies against Salmonella sp. in free-ranging moose (Alces alces) in Norway. Serum samples from 303 clinically healthy moose sampled between 1993-2000 were examined. Anti-Salmonella antibodies were detected in samples from 6 individuals (1.98%). This is the first evidence of Salmonella-seropositive free-ranging moose. Possible sources and transmission routes of Salmonella comprising environment, wildlife and man are discussed.

Due to the hard environmental and climatic situation in late winter 1999, a herd of about 200 free-ranging, semi-domesticated reindeer was gathered in a paddock in northern Norway for emergency feeding. About the same number of reindeer was not corralled but supplementary fed on their winter pastures. The fodder was of relatively good quality but very dusty and fed in a very dry environment. Six weeks later, an outbreak of eye-infection was diagnosed in one third of the corralled reindeer; mild symptoms were observed in most of them, but 11 animals showed severe signs of disease. No signs of disease were found in the non-corralled animals. Ten reindeer died through emaciation, the eleventh was sacrificed. Histopathological diagnosis of two severely affected eyes revealed a severe purulent kerato-conjunctivitis with bacteria and plant particles embedded in purulent exudates on the cornea and conjunctiva. In one eye from the two most affected animals Actinomyces pyogenes, coagulase-negative Staphylococci and Escherichia coli and in the other one Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were found. The bacteria encountered in this study are not considered the primary cause of disease. They seem rather to be opportunistic infectious agents of eyes that have been irritated mechanically through exposure to dusty fodder in a dry environment. The stress through unfamiliar corralling of the reindeer, that followed an insufficient fodder supply, could be considered as an additional infection supporting factor. This case-report emphasises on the importance of different factors involved in favouring outbreaks of disease in reindeer, under intensified husbandry conditions. Even though crowding and emergency feeding may be, at certain circumstances, the only means of survival for reindeer, a negative impact of implied crowding diseases on their productivity, must be considered, as well.

There is little information on bacteria that have the potential to cause disease in reindeer husbandry. In this project, faecal samples from 35 free-ranging or corralled reindeer, adults and calves, that died in the winter of 2000 in northern Norway, were examined for the occurrence of Campylobacter spp., Clostridium perfringens, Listeria spp., Salmonella spp. and Yersinia spp. to evaluate the role of these microrganisms in loss and mortality in reindeer husbandry. In addition, 31 of these samples were examined for the occurrence of bacteria producing shigatoxin-1 and 2. C. perfringens was isolated in 20 (57.1%) of the faecal samples. In the free-ranging reindeer, 44% were positive carriers of C. perfringens and 90% of the corralled ones were positive for C. perfringens. In addition, the gene encoding for shigatoxin-1 was detected in one of the samples derived from a corralled reindeer. The other bacteria investigated were not found. Shigatoxin-1-producing bacteria were isolated for the first time from reindeer in Norway. However, no correlation between C. perfringens or shigatoxin-1-producing bacteria and mortality in the reindeer could be established.

An indirect ELISA was developed as a possible tool for surveillance of the seroprevalence of Salmonella spp. in harp seals. This species is hunted for human consumption and thus transmission of disease to humans cannot be excluded. To cover a broad spectrum of serogroups, a mixture of the lipopolysaccharides (LPS) of S. typhimurium and S. choleraesuis was used as the antigen in this pilot study. Chicken anti-harp-seal immunoglobulin horseradish peroxidase conjugate served as the immunoconjugate. Sera from four captive harp seals, which were Salmonella culture-negative and had no clinical or historical evidence of salmonellosis, were used as negative controls. After immunization with an inactivated S. typhimurium vaccine, further sera from these seals were used as positive controls, as no serum from naturally infected animals was available. Serum samples from 93 harp seals caught in the Greenland sea in 1999 were examined, and anti-Salmonella antibodies were found in the samples from two individuals (seroprevalence 2.2%). Although Salmonella has been isolated from other pinniped species, this is the first documentation of Salmonella-seropositive harp seals. This study contributes to the evaluation of the importance of salmonellosis in arctic marine mammals and thus to the prevention of potential outbreaks of this important zoonosis.

An indirect ELISA was developed as a possible tool to detect the seroprevalence of antibodies to Salmonella spp in semidomesticated reindeer. To cover a broad spectrum of serogroups a lipopolysaccharide mix of S. typhimurium and S. choleraesuis was used as antigen in this pilot study. Sera from 31 culture-negative reindeer with no clinical or historical evidence of salmonellosis were used as negative serum control. After immunisation with an inactivated S. typhimurium vaccine, pooled sera from 6 reindeer were used as positive serum control as no serum from naturally infected animals was available. A seroprevalence of 0.6% in 2000 clinically healthy, slaughter-reindeer from Norway was determined by using this ELISA. No more information on Salmonella in reindeer in Norway is known to the authors. This is the first ELISA established for indirect detection of Salmonella in reindeer.

The provision ad libitum of the browse plant Merremia tridentata as a free-choice supplement to the grass Panicum maximum led to a significant increase in the total food intake of groups of five West African Dwarf sheep, although the increase in weight gain was not significant. The protein content of M. tridentata was higher than that of the grass and its tannin content was not sufficient to render it unpalatable.

Very little is known about the occurrence of Clostridium perfringens and of diseases caused by this anaerobic bacterium in marine mammals, especially those that are free-living. During a scientific expedition to the Greenland Sea (West Ice) in spring 1999, faeces samples from 70 hooded seals (Cystophora cristata) were taken to isolate C. perfiringens. Subsequently, PCR analysis of the isolates was performed with oligonucleotide primers of the genes encoding the four major lethal toxins (alpha, beta, epsilon and iota) for classification of toxin type and of the genes encoding C. perfringens beta2-toxin and enterotoxin for further subclassification. In addition, a commercial ELISA kit for detection of C. perfringens alpha, beta- and epsilon-toxin was used. C. perfingens was isolated in samples from 38 (54.3%) hooded seals. All isolates were C. perfringens toxin type A (alpha-toxin positive). This is the first report on the occurrence of C. perfringens in this arctic marine mammal species. Myositis and enterotoxemia caused by C. perfrigens were described in other marine mammals and it may be assumed that the pathogenesis of an outbreak of disease is similar to that encountered in terrestrial animals. Although there is some controversy surrounding the enteropathogenicity and virulence of alpha-toxin (concerning enterotoxemia), this study suggests that a possible outbreak of enterotoxemia caused by C. perfringens type A in hooded seals may, however, not be excluded.

In 1994 and 1995 leaves from eight browse feeds, containing tannins in different amounts (BF), were fed to West African Dwarf Sheep in Benin to evaluate their impact on Clostridium perfringens in the intestinal tract. An inhibitory impact of various BF on the growth of C. perfringens was assessed in in-vitro assays before, and thus a potential use of these leaves as a preventive diet against C. perfringens enterotoxemia in small ruminants was assumed. Surprisingly, an inhibitory impact of the BF on the shedding of C. perfringens in the feces of West African Dwarf Sheep could not be shown in seven of the eight BF examined. However, the pattern of inhibition of unlike C. perfringens toxovars may differ and a selective inhibitory impact of the BF Dialium guineense on C. perfringens toxovar D may be assumed.

ENTERIC bacteria belonging to the genus Yersinia occur worldwide in domestic livestock, wild animals and the natural environment. Several Yersinia species are of significant animal and public health importance, such as Yersinia enterocolitica and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis , the causative agents of yersiniosis in human beings and animals, and Yersinia pestis, which causes plague (Neubauer and others 2000a, 2001a, b). This short communication describes a study to evaluate the habitat and prevalence of Yersinia species in wild red deer ( Cervus elaphus ) in Norway.